William finds ‘solace’ in ally who’s helped ‘heal hole in his heart’ as bond with Harry is ‘fractured’, claims expert

PRINCE William finds “solace” in brother-in-law James Middleton following his relationship with brother Prince Harry becoming “fractured”, according to an expert.

The Prince of Wales, 42, is said to have a “strong bond” with wife Kate’s brother, 37, and sees himself as part of the Middleton family.

Royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Fabulous: “I imagine that William finds it a huge solace that he is so close to the Middleton family as his relationship with his own brother Harry has become so fractured. 

“From the moment that he began dating Kate at St Andrews University, he fell in love with her close family, something he tragically lost with the divorce of his own parents and the death of his mother. 

“He has even jokingly called Michael Middleton ‘Dad’ and definitely enjoys their close relationship.”

This comes as James – younger brother of Kate and Pippa – has opened up about the moment he knew Prince William was right for his sister.

In an extract from his upcoming book, Adapted from Meet Ella, which is to be published on September 26, James spoke of the moment the engagement was pending.

He wrote: “William has been in our lives for so long and we’ve grown very fond of him. He feels like our older brother and he and Catherine are so clearly a good fit, just right for each other. As we digest the news, I know I haven’t yet experienced the love they feel for each other myself. But I’m hoping one day I will.

“I thought how lucky William was to be marrying my capable, down-to-earth big sister, and I felt absolutely reassured that they were in love.

“It was beautiful to see how he brought out her confidence. She’d blossomed. I knew he’d look after her, and he does to this day.”

James and William’s ‘brother bond’

Claudia added: “James obviously adores his brother-in-law. 

“In his autobiography, he describes him as the ‘older brother’ he never had and says he was ‘reassured that they were in love’.”

The royal biographer pointed out there are numerous “parallels” between William’s family and the Middletons, which has enabled the Prince and Princess of Wales to create a “strong bond.”

Claudia explained: “They both grew up in the Home Counties, with a love of country pursuits and animals, went to neighbouring public schools, which played sport against each other, and have strong competitive instincts.”

She claimed that William and James – who is married to French finance worker Alizée Thevenet and dad to son Inigo – particularly bonded over their love of dogs.

Bonded over dogs

Claudia continued: “There is obviously a strong bond between William and James, as James suggests in his autobiography Meet Ella. 

“In fact, it was when James got his dog Ella as a puppy that the two men first bonded. 

“As a child William had a black labrador called Widgeon and when he died, there was a hole in William’s heart. 

He [Prince William] feels like our older brother and he and Catherine are so clearly a good fit, just right for each other

James Middleton

“That hole was fixed when Ella had a puppy Lupo, who became an important member of the Cambridge family. 

“From the moment William met Ella, they bonded, and Ella gave William the excuse to escape the competitive nature of the Middleton family and slink off to cuddle her and take her for walks. 

“When Lupo died in 2020, James gave his nieces and nephews another black cocker spaniel called Orla.”

Mental health honesty

In his upcoming book, James has been candid about his struggles with his mental health, and the royal family are passionate about tackling stigma surrounding the topic.

The Prince and Princess of Wales even launched the mental health initiative Heads Together to help change the conversation on mental health.

Claudia added: “James has also been incredibly open about his own mental health struggles, as has Prince Harry. 

“But tragically, while James has talked about how he survived feeling suicidal, without laying the blame at anyone’s door, Harry has consistently blamed the Royal family for his woes. 

“If Harry could take a leaf out of James’ book, perhaps the Royal brothers could be close once more.”